Brown Pelican released by Nick Ameen

Seven birds rescued from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill were released Monday in Florida.

Out of the seven there were three Brown Pelicans, two Northern Gannets and two Laughing Gulls. The birds were cleaned and rehabilitated at the Fort Jackson Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Louisiana. This is the same center that the very first two birds released were rehabilitated at.

The seven birds were then transported to the Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge where they were released. The refuge is actually an island in the Florida Keys. The birds will join hundreds of other birds that already call this place home!

Tom Watson with the Florida Park Service said:

There’s 1500 brown pelicans out there to greet these guys that are already established on this island.

I’m sure they will love it!

Michael Lusk, a National Wildlife Refuge manager said:

This is why we’re here. This is why the National Wildlife Refuges were founded back in 1903 to protect and preserve America’s wildlife. This is a great day for us because we’re doing what we were established to do.

And this is exactly why I support organizations like this!

Northern Gannet released by Nick Ameen